Methods and systems for producing neuronal lesions using magnetic resonance and acoustic energy

1. A method, comprising: obtaining imaging data corresponding to a region of interest, the region of interest within an imaging subject; receiving information indicative of a target region within the region of interest from the obtained imaging data, the target region comprising pathways contributing to neurological disease; and while a therapeutic agent is being delivered to the imaging subject, generating focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles, wherein the neurotoxin comprises quinolinic acid and the microbubbles comprise lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon gas bubbles; causing the therapeutic agent comprising the neurotoxin and microbubbles to enter the target region within the region of interest comprising a brain of the imaging subject while the target region is being insonified by the focused acoustic energy; and causing disconnection of the pathways contributing to the neurological disease by the therapeutic agent that entered the target region in response to interaction between the focused acoustic energy directed to the target region and presence of the therapeutic agent within the target region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focused acoustic energy comprises ultrasound generated by an acoustic transducer, and wherein receiving the information indicative of the target region within the region of interest comprises performing an image segmentation technique.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the imaging data comprises generating a magnetic resonance imaging sequence and constructing an image of the region of interest in response to excitation associated with the magnetic resonance imaging sequence.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the imaging sequence corresponds to at least one of a T1-weighted spin echo imaging protocol, a T2-weighted gradient recalled echo imaging protocol, or a T2-weighted turbo spin-echo imaging protocol.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising enhancing contrast shown in a constructed image using a contrast agent administered in relation to the magnetic resonance imaging sequence.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering the therapeutic agent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the region of interest comprises a brain of the imaging subject; the barrier comprises blood-brain-barrier (BBB); and the neurotoxin comprises a chemical with substantially low BBB permeability.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information indicative of the target region within the region of interest comprises: comparing the imaging data of a plurality of sections within the region of interest to a model representing neurological disease; determining that a level of similarity between a first of the plurality of sections and the model exceeds a threshold; and in response to determining that the level of similarity exceeds the threshold, selecting as the target region the first of the plurality of sections.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information indicative of the target region within the region of interest comprises receiving user input that selects the target region from a plurality of regions in the region of interest.

10. A system, comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging system configured to obtain imaging data corresponding to a region of interest, the region of interest within an imaging subject; a memory circuit configured to store the obtained imaging data; a processor circuit coupled to a memory circuit and configured to receive information indicative of a target region within the region of interest from the stored imaging data, the target region comprising pathways contributing to neurological disease; an acoustic energy generator coupled to an acoustic transducer configured to, while a therapeutic agent is being delivered to the imaging subject, generate focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles, wherein the neurotoxin comprises quinolinic acid and the microbubbles comprise lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon gas bubbles, the acoustic energy generator causing the therapeutic agent comprising the neurotoxin and microbubbles to enter the target region within the region of interest comprising a brain of the imaging subject while the target region is being insonified by the focused acoustic energy, and wherein the acoustic energy generator causes disconnection of the pathways contributing to the neurological disease by the therapeutic agent that entered the target region in response to interaction between the focused acoustic energy directed to the target region and presence of the therapeutic agent within the target region.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: capturing a T1-weighted spin echo image using a magnetic resonance system after the therapeutic agent is administered to the imaging subject; detecting presence of a contrast agent at the target region indicating that the barrier has been opened based on the T1-weighted spin echo image; after capturing the T1-weighted spin echo image and after the target region is insonified by the focused acoustic energy, capturing one or more T2-weighted gradient recalled echo images to detect presence of lesions in the target region.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining that the parenchymal tissue in the target region has been destroyed in response to determining that the target region includes an increased number of small cell bodies using the one or more T2-weighted gradient recalled echo images.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting presence of an ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 in the target region to determine that the parenchymal tissue in the target region has been destroyed.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microbubbles exhibit a nonlinear response when insonified at diagnostic ultrasound frequencies that is distinguishable from linear acoustic reflections.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to receive information indicative of the target region within the region of interest by: comparing the imaging data of a plurality of sections within the region of interest to a model representing neurological disease; determining that a level of similarity between a first of the plurality of sections and the model exceeds a threshold; and in response to determining that the level of similarity exceeds the threshold, selecting as the target region the first of the plurality of sections.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to receive information indicative of the target region within the region of interest by receiving user input that selects the target region from a plurality of regions in the region of interest.

17. An apparatus, comprising: means for obtaining imaging data corresponding to a region of interest, the region of interest within an imaging subject; means for receiving information indicative of a target region within the region of interest from the obtained imaging data, the target region comprising pathways contributing to neurological disease; and means for while a therapeutic agent is being delivered to the imaging subject, generating focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles, wherein the neurotoxin comprises quinolinic acid and the microbubbles comprise lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon gas bubbles; means for causing the therapeutic agent comprising the neurotoxin and microbubbles to enter the target region within the region of interest comprising a brain of the imaging subject while the target region is being insonified by the focused acoustic energy; and means for causing disconnection of the pathways contributing to the neurological disease by the therapeutic agent that entered the target region in response to interaction between the focused acoustic energy directed to the target region and presence of the therapeutic agent within the target region.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein means for obtaining the imaging data comprises means for generating a magnetic resonance imaging sequence and means for constructing an image of the region of interest in response to excitation associated with the magnetic resonance imaging sequence.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the imaging sequence corresponds to at least one of a T1-weighted spin echo imaging protocol, a T2-weighted gradient recalled echo imaging protocol, or a T2-weighted turbo spin-echo imaging protocol.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein: the region of interest comprises a brain of the imaging subject; the barrier comprises blood-brain-barrier (BBB); and the neurotoxin comprises a chemical with substantially low BBB permeability.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein means for receiving information indicative of the target region within the region of interest comprises: means for comparing the imaging data of a plurality of sections within the region of interest to a model representing neurological disease; means for determining that a level of similarity between a first of the plurality of sections and the model exceeds a threshold; and means for in response to determining that the level of similarity exceeds the threshold, selecting as the target region the first of the plurality of sections.